The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1887-04-28

! would have had our son with US in
our old age"
"Esther!''
II know we havn't mentioned him
for years, jeremiah, but, for all that,
neither OF us has lived a day without
thinking of him"
a father did by his child"
1--WE did what We thought was fol-
his best good; but feer we made
some mistakes"
| HE was wild as q young colt; moth.
ing could tame him!" The father spoke
impatiently and scowled hard, lest his
face might show the love and longing
in his heart.
He WAS full of life, and fiery, too;
and, instead Of guiding him gently in
traces which could not gall, we bound
him, as it were, so tightly that he
broke the letters and disappeared,
We wanted him to be old and Steady,
and his young spirit could not be sub.
dued. l see it all now. There were
no companions for him, no Jolly
times as Lucy says, and nothing
about tho old farm worth staying
for"
No answer but smotherei groan.
'"There, Jerry, l amt blaming you
more than l do myself. We were wrong
and the boy was wrong, too. If We
only knew where to find him we might
make it Ill right be.ore.we die. war.
rant he has longed to return, but
pride and fear have kept him back,
He can't know how We long for him,
for he never knew how much We loved
him; we never told him!"
"Oh, Esther!'
well. father, won't say any more
All these thoughts have been crowd,
ed down in my heart so long that
had to speak, and I think it'll do us
good, after ALL"
| She drew nearer and laid her head
on his shoulder. while tears rolled
down her wrinkled cheeks, and thus
they sat far into the night.
The next day among tho families o
the neighboring farm-h houses, there
was but one topic of conversations
The invitation to spend Thanksgiving
| with jeremiah Winters.
The eventful day came at last. Lucy
with a. dozen boys and girls, made the
rafters ring with their glad shouts
Down stairs the best room was filled
with the hum of elderly voices recount
ing "old times," while in the sitting
room the young people were eating
apples and counting the seeds, with
much jest and laughter, sly glances
and bushes.
In the kitchen a long table was load.
ed with good things, while Aunt Esther
with plenty Of help, was completing
the preparations for dinner.
Uncle Jerry excitedly went from
room to room, trying to appear as il
this sort of thing was of common oc.
currence in his house. For the first
time in her life, his wife had asserted
her right to entertain her friends, and
now he felt glad that she had perse.
vered. He was surprised to find what
pleasant neighbours he had.
1t was night, and the merry.makina
was at its height. The walls echoed
laughter and song, and from every
window lights cleaned far out into
the darkness.
From the village depot, five miles
away, g. traveller was walking over
the lonely road as if eager to join the
Joyous party; but when at length he
came in sight of the many lights, he
stopped in amazement. Nearer and
nearer he came, till through the un,
shaded windows he saw the friendly
scene within. With q glad smile on
his face he turned away, and, stand.
ing in the deep shadow of pine, he
watched long and patiently.
At last, after a host of thanks and
pleasant ''farewells," all was still,
and only three sat in the deserted
rooms.
A hush fell over them, and thew
looked thoughtfully into the flickerina
fire. Lucy, climbing on her uncle's
knee, thanked him SO prettily for the
days pleasure that he bent and kissed
her. Then, holding out his hand to
his wife, he said:
'"This little lady has thanked me,
but we both ought to thank you. It
has been q pleasant day to me-"
This was a great deal for this man
to say, and they were silent again, but
each one happy through making 9th.
ers glad.
Then the door opened and a. stran.
ger entered. He was tall and heavily
bearded; but a mothers eye will know
her own, and, with q cry which ex.
pressed the yearning of years, "My
boy!" she was folded in his strong EN-.
brace, while about them both were
c'asped the fathers trembling arms.
No one knew how long they sat to.
gether-the long separated family
once more united. Lucy, with wide
open eyes, enjoyed to the utmost
the browning excitement, much
pleased with the tall cousin Of whom
she had never heard.
"Oh, John, why did you stay away
so long?" ventured the mother.
II came back once, five years AGO,
and saw you and father through the
window. But, knowing deserved no
welcome, feared to enter. Tonight
should have entered at all events:
but when saw you with your friends
about you, and, later, sitting here with
clasped hands, l felt sure ola welcome
sure that you had forgiven the past
and felt only pity for your wayward
son. Now l mean to cancel the suffer
ing OF the past by making the future
happy"
"Now, Uncle Jerry, 1 told you so!
| thanksgiving can amount to a great
deal sometimes!" and the merry laugh
which followed was not less hearty be.
cause it broke through tears ofjoy.
Mothers and Daughters.
Ayoung girl, beautiful and attrac
tive, while engaged to be married to
an honest, honorable gentleman a. few